Apparatus for combining linear bodies into a composite product

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for packaging or combining composite roving from a plurality of individual rovings including a rotatable winding collet, combining a plurality of the individual rovings as supplied from a source thereof into the composite roving, monitoring motion of each individual roving between the supply source and the combining means and supplying a motion signal for each roving in response to motion thereof, and control circuitry responsive to the motion signals for controlling the supplying and counting of the individual rovings for the composite roving as it is wound onto the collet.

llnitea States Patent 1 1 1111 3,792,821 Fallon Feb, 19, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FOR COMBINING LINEAR 3,148,814 9/1964 Snider... 226/ll BODIES INTO A COMPOSITE PRODUCT 3,361,375 l/l968 Klink et al. 242/42 Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl.

Craig Fallon, Perrysburg, Ohio Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, Toledo, Ohio Dec. 1, 1971 Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 862,234, Sept. 30, 1969,

abandoned.

[5 8] Field US. Cl 242/42, 28/51, 226/11,

Int. Cl B6Sh 63/02, B65h 54/02 of Search.. 242/42, 36, 37, 38, 57; 28/51; 226/11, 43

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1962 Raheux et al 242/36 Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or FirmCarl G. Staelin; John W.

Overman; Myron E. Click [5 7] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for packaging or combining composite roving from a plurality of individual rovings including a rotatable winding collet, combining a plurality of the individual rovings as supplied from a source thereof into the composite roving, monitoring motion of each individual roving between the supply source and the combining means and supplying a motion signal for each roving in response to motion thereof, and control circuitry responsive to the motion signals for controlling the supplying and counting of the individual rovings for the composite roving as it is wound onto the collet.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 1 9 :974

SHEET 1 [IF 3 APPARATUS FOR COMBINING LINEAR BODIES INTO A COMPOSITE PRODUCT This application is a continuation of my co-pending application Ser. No. 862,234, filed Sept. 30, 1969, now abandoned.

While the method and apparatus of the invention are particularly usable for packaging a composite roving or end product comprising multiple strands or rovings formed of filaments of glass, it is to be understood that the method and arrangement may be utilized wherever it is desired to maintain a positive end count on linear bodies being assembled into a composite product. The invention will be described, however, with reference to its particular application to the production of the composite roving.

It has been a practice to produce a composite roving product by withdrawing strands or rovings from creel supplies thereof and converging the strands or rovings into a group and winding the group on a rotatable packaging tube, collet or collector. It has been found that one of the major problems in producing such a composite linear product lies in maintaining a positive end count of the number of strands or rovings actually being combined into the composite roving. The specifications for different products vary, but there has been an increased requirement for accuracy in maintaining a predetermined number or minimum number of rovings or strands in the composite product. Thus, a need has developed for increased reliability and durability in novel control circuitry and a new method to enable an operator to better meet new specifications for a composite roving with a positive end count, or generally combining linear bodies into a composite product.

Apparatus has been introduced to the art which performed an end count function as an incidental control in effecting a required tension on. each strand to provide a composite roving made up of individual rovings having a substantially uniform tension. In US. Pat. No. 3,361,375 issued Jan. 2, 1968, an end count was provided by a drop member or drop wire which was held in elevated position by the tension of the roving threaded through a guide eye in the drop member. When the roving broke, the member normally supported thereby fell by gravity to close a switch which interrupted the operation of a winding motor and a feed roll motor. While the above described approach was satisfactory for use in the device as described, difficulties were encountered in that the apparatus as a whole was primarily a tension sensing and tension controlling device. Thus, ifa tension controlling portion of the apparatus failed then it was possible to obtain a breakout signal even if the strand were not broken. Further, abrasion on the strand or roving may mechanically reduce the strength of the strand or roving and may further interfere with the functioning of the tensioning devices. In addition, breakage of the strand or roving at certain points of the apparatus may not be detected by the device since the licking or wrap around capabilities of a filament or strand may effect sufficient tension in the area of the drop wire or member supported by the strand to maintain support of the drop wire detecting member even though the strand is broken.

The present invention may be utilized as a method of combining groups or bundles of filaments, strands or rovings into a composite group or roving and packaging the composite group or roving by winding in a manner which is controlled by the positive sensing of each individual strand by monitoring the motion thereof. While the motion monitoring of an individual strand or roving may be effected in any suitable place in the system it is desirable to do so at a position closely adjacent to the supply thereof to permit a repair of a break or the placement of a new supply in an empty creel position before a substandard composite product is formed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide novel method and apparatus for packaging a strand material in which an end count is performed in a manner which does not interfere with tensioning devices which may be used in the apparatus, which further permits end counting very close to the source of supply of the strand to reduce or remove interference with tensioning devices and permitting repair of the composite strand before it is wound on the collector, and which performs a positive end count rather than sensing the tension of a short section of an individual strand.

It is also an object of this invention to provide apparatus for controlling the combining of linear bodies into a composite product in which a positive sensing of the end count results in a quality control for products which may be directly used after forming the composite product, for example, an impregnation and drying process of the composite product upon formation thereof.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economics of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of one form of apparatus for carrying out the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit schematic of a first means for detecting strand motion;

FIG. 3 is a circuit schematic of a second form of detecting strand motion; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the circuit and electrical components of a control system for the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a form of the apparatus of the invention for combining strands or rovings supplied from packages on a creel into a single bundle, group or composite roving and windingthe same into a package. The apparatus is inclusive of a base 10 on which is mounted a housing or frame structure 12 which supports or encloses operating components and control means therefor. The housing 12 is provided with an upwardly'extending frame portion on which a'winding head is mounted, a winding mandrel being journaled on the head being driven by an electrically energizable motor, the mandrel mounting a collector or thin walled tube 19 upon which the composite roving or end product is collected into a wound package 20.

Pivotally mounted by means carried by the housing 12 is a tension control arm 22 having at its distal end a roving guide means or member 24 mounted on the tension control arm 22. In the apparatus illustrated the roll 24 is fashioned with a peripheral groove to converge, gather or combine the strands or rovings into a single group or composite roving preparatory to winding the composite roving or end product into the package 20. Also mounted on the housing is a member 28 which supports a traverse means 30 which reciprocates a guide lengthwise of the package and its supporting mandrel and is engaged by the group or bundle of strands or roving making up the composite roving end product 60.

The traverse means or guide 30 is reciprocated throughout the full length of the package 20 to guide the composite roving onto the package to form a package of the desired configuration.

The composite roving 60 comprises a plurality of individual strands, rovings or linear bodies supplied from packages mounted on a creel frame. As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a package support means or creel frame 38 having a plurality of cradles 40 providing mounting means for packages 42 of strands, rovings or other linear bodies 44 to be combined into the composite product 60. While FIG. 1 illustrates the frame 38 as supporting packages in vertically spaced relation, it is to be understood that the creel frame 38 extends transversely and is adapted to support several vertical tiers of strand or roving supply packages in adjacent relation. Other strand supplying arrangements may be used including, if desirable, strand directly provided from a fiber-forming station.

The creel frame 38 is provided with a thread board 46 having openings formed therein accommodating guide bushings 48, there being a guide bushing for each strand or roving 44. 7

Suitable tension devices for adjusting the tension in each strand or roving are shown in the prior art US. Pat. No. 3,361,375 and may be utilized with the apparatus illustrated and described herein without interfering with the tension supplied. This arrangement includes means for simultaneously withdrawing and feeding a plurality of strands or rovings from the packages mounted upon the creel frame 38.

Journally supported upon a supplemental frame structure 34 extending from structure 12 is an idler roll 50 for guiding the individual strands or rovings 44 toward a strand or roving feed or pull roll 52 driven by a motor 54 at a substantially constant speed. The strands or rovings 44 engage the pull roll or feed roll 52 and a cooperating nip roll 56, and are advanced to the guide member or grooved roll 24 carried by the pivotally supported tension arm 22. The guide 24 provides a gathering means for converging the strands or rovings 44 into the single roving 60 which is a composite of the several rovings or strands.

The feed roll system is adapted to advance the several individual strands or rovings 44 in spaced relation at a constant speed to establish and maintain uniform tension in all of the rovings or strands. Disposed forwardly of the creel support 38 and mounted on the supdriving chain 146 with a sprocket mounted on a shaft 138. Also mounted on the shaft 138 is a sprocket connected by a driving chain 152 with a sprocket mounted on the shaft of a motor 18. The motor 18 is equipped with an electric brake 158 for stopping the winding operation in the shortest time possible in the event of breakage of a strand or roving 44. The motor 18 drives the winding mandrel and the tube 19 through the media of chains 146, 152 and associated sprockets. Through this arrangement the head is adapted to pivot about the axis of the shaft l38-as a package of roving 60 plemental frame 34 is a strand or roving guide means designated generally by the reference character 100.

- The feed roll motor 54 drives the feed roll 52 by a I increases in size.

The motor 18 is of a character in which the speed is progressively reduced as the package 20 of roving increases in size during the winding operation. Any suitable means for reducing the speed of the motor 18 may be utilized as disclosed hereinbefore in the prior art. This and other controls for the motor 18 and the motor 54 are grouped together in a winding motor control circuit and a pull roll motor control circuit which will not be described in detail since their specifics are not relevant to carrying out this invention.

The advancing rovings or strand 44 in spaced relation engage the driven feed roll 52 and pressure or nip roll 56, the rovings being converged into a composite group by the gathering shoe or guide member 24 mounted on the tension arm 22. The winding of the group of rovings of composite rovings 60 is initiated by the operator manually threading the composite roving through a traverse guide eye associated with the traverse means 30 and manually winding a few turns of the roving on the collector or packaging tube 19. Prior to grouping the individual strands in the composite rovings 60, the operator must thread each roving 44 through the guide bushing 48, the guide means 100, around the idler roll 50, the nip roll 52 and pull roll 56 to be converged with the other individual rovings or strands at the gathering member 24. In the threading operation the operator establishes contact with a pulley P- associated with each strand 44, either by contact throughout a partial arc of the circumference thereof or contact with a full turn around the pulley P, so that the pulley P is sensitive or responsive to strand motion and rotates in response to linear motion of the strand.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown one of the pulleys P with an individual strand or roving 44 in contact therewith to effect a rotation thereof. The rotation of the pulley P drives an alternating current generator ACTG which may be mounted to hold the pulley in the position adjacent the strand as shown in FIG. 1 by any suitable means. The alternating current electrical signal output from the generator ACTG is supplied through an adjustable resistor AT] to a rectifier bridge RB. The output of the rectifier bridge is applied across a condenser C1 to a generator relay TGR which will be energized in response thereto when the speed of rotation of the pulley P driving the generator ACTG is sufficient to provide an output of a predetermined magnitude. The magnitude of the output applied to the relay and thus the pull-in time of the relay TGR may be adjusted by the resistor ATl. The closing of front contacts or the opening of back contacts of the relay TGR in response to energization thereof is a signal which indicates motion of the strand or roving 44. While the motion measured by the generator ACT G and pulley P combination is a linear motion it is to be understood that other forms of strand motion which may result from the withdrawal of a strand or other linear body from a supply thereof may be measured to produce a signal which indicates that a strand, roving, or linear body is being supplied to form the composite roving 60 and that the strand is notbroken.

Referring to FIG. 3 a pulley P is again associated with an individual roving or strand 44 to excite or energize a direct current generator DCTG to provide a direct current output through an adjustable resistor ATI' and a load resistor LR. A power source PS is gated to a generator relay TGR and condenser C1 combination via any suitable gating circuit, an example being a silicon controlled rectifier SCR as shown in FIG. 3. The appearance of-an output of a predetermined magnitude across the load resistor LR opens the circuit through the gating means SCR and permits application of energy from the power source through the relay TGR to open or close contacts to provide a motion signal in response to movement or motion of the strand 44 and the resultant rotation of the pulley P. Again, the resistor ATl may be adjusted to determine the rate of motion or linear velocity of the strand 44 which will be sufficient to provide an output voltage across the resistor LR to gate the silicon controlled rectifier SCR. If the output from the generator DCTG is of sufficient magnitude the separate power source and gating means therefor may be dispensed with the output from the generator DCTG would then be applied directly to the relay TGR.

Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown a logic or control circuit to effect the desiredresults for the preferred 7 embodiment of this invention as described herein. It will be noted that in FIG. 4 that a numbered line diagram has been utilized. The components can be readily located by reference to the line number where the component is positioned. Further, contact switching operations may be noted without designating a mechanical tie between the contacts and the actuating means. The contacts may be located at any convenient position, even though quite remote from their actuating means. Cross reference between the actuating means and its associated contact is easily accomplished by noting in the right hand margin of the drawing the reference character of the actuating means, for example, TDRa time delay relay, adjacent line number 70, the line in which the contact actuating means TDR appears. Following the reference character there is noted the line number in which TDR contacts close when caused to do so by the actuating means, i.e., line number 72. Other actuating means and their associated contacts are similarly noted. When aback contact, that is one which is normally closed when the actuating means is not energized, is noted in the drawing the line number location of that contact is underlined. For example, relay DR3 in line number 86 has a back contact in line 89. The line number 89 is underlined while the position of.a DR3 front contact in 91 is not underlined to note the difference.

In FIG. 4 the back contacts of TGR relays for sensing the motion of each of the strands being combined into the composite product are shown in lines 72 to 76 and labeled TGRl, TGR2, TGR3, TGR4, and TGRn to illustrate that the motion of a plurality or n number of individual linear bodies is being sensed or monitored. Connected in series with each of the back contacts TGR in line 72 to 76 are current limiting resistors R1, R2, R3, R4, Rn and lamps L1, L2, L3, L4, Ln,

6 respectively. The lamps Ll through Ln indicate when the particular roving being monitored is broken and will be energized when the roving is broken or no strand motion is detected.

In addition to the general monitoring of each of the individual strands a special monitoring circuit may be utilized whenever a tracer strand is embodied in the composite product. A tracer strand may be provided with a different color from the remaining individual strands so that the amount or dispersion of the composite roving may be visually monitored when utilized in the final product. Therefore, in line 71 back contacts TGRT are provided in series with a current limiting resistance RT and indicating lamp LT and a relay DRE. A switch TCS permits selective use of the individual tracer circuit.

Power is provided to the control circuit by power.

leads PLl and PL2. A time delay relay TDR is connected between power leads PLl and PL2 through front contacts HR of a holding relay HR in line 89. The holding relay HR is responsive to the start of and continuing operation of the apparatus. The winding motor control circuits WMC and the pull roll motor control circuits PRMC are generally designated in box form in lines 89 and 90 and may include the various control elements desired as disclosed in the prior art for the operation of the motors 54 and -18.

The operation of the motor control circuits is initiated by the closing of a spring-loaded, start push button STT in line 89 which closes a circuit through a normally closed stop push button STP, the holding relay HR, back contacts DRl or relay DRl in line 71, and back contacts DR3 of relay DR3 in line 86. Closure of the push button STT will energize the holding relay HR, closing front contacts HR in line 90 to complete a holding circuit around the push button switch STT to initiate and maintain the operation of the combining of the individual linear bodies into a composite product after the operator has threaded the apparatus as hereinbefore described. The operation may be interrupted by pushing the stop button STP to open the circuit just described, or may be stopped by other circuits included in the winder motor control WMC or power pull roll motor control PRMC circuits illustrated in 89 and 90, for example, the completion of a package or other control effects.

The energizing of the holding relay HR also closes front contacts HR in line to energize the time delay relay TDR. After a predetermined time the TDR front contacts close in line 72 enabling completion of a circuit from power lead PLl through the parallel connected monitoring contacts TGRl through TGRn, a two deck selector switch SS1, and a voltage divider network having sections AV and BV to power lead PL2. The signal present at the midpoint or center tap CT of the voltage divider network AV, BV is tapped and supplied to control the gating of the silicon controlled rectifiers SCRl and SCR2 in lines and 86. The silicon controlled rectifiers as used herein are representative of any gate or signal sensitive switching means which will upon the receipt of the proper signal permit application of energy to the circuit controlling interruption relays DRZ and DR3 in lines 85 and 86.

Since contacts TGRT through TGRn are back contacts they are initially closed when the start button STT is pushed in line 89 to energize the motor circuits WMC and PRMC. In the particular motion monitoring device utilized herein a short time may be required for the strand motion to build up sufficient excitation in the generators to provide a large enough output signal to enable the motion sensing relays TGR to become energized and open the back contacts TGRT through TGRn. For this reason, time relay TDR has been utilized to maintain the motion sensing circuit open by the front contacts TDR in line 72 until the signal buildup is sufficient to open all of the TGRT through TGRn contacts. Thus, although TDR contacts in line 72 close after the timing out of the time delay relay TDR in line 70, no signal is applied to the voltage dividing network AV, BV, since the contacts TGRT through TGRn are now open in response to the sensing of linear motion of all of the strands 44 being monitored, including the tracer strand if desired.

The selector switch SS1 has two decks designated at A and B. The ganged contact arms CAA and CAB in decks A and B illustrated in lines 77 and 81 provide contact from a common switching point to any of selected point contacts A0, A1, A2, A3, Ax and B0, B1, B2, B3, Bx, respectively. The voltage divider section AV includes resistances AVO, AVl, AV2, AV3, and AVx connected between the contacts just described and a common tap CT. The BV section of the voltage divider network includes resistances BVO, BVl, BV2, BV3 and BVx connected between the point contacts of the B deck of the selector switch SS1 and a common lead CL which leads to power lead PL2 in line 84.

The values of the resistances in the voltage divider network AV, BV are selected so that upon the proper magnitude of current flow through the TDR contacts and one or more of the back contacts TGRl through TGRn which may be closed, will provide an output at the common point CT to gate one or both of the silicon controlled rectifiers SCRl and SCR2 in lines 85 and 86.

When a strand or individual roving 44 breaks the associated pulley P stops rotating thus no longer driving an associated generator to provide an output to a motion sensing relay TGR. One of the TGR contacts in lines 72 through 76 then close, supplying a signal current through one of the associated current limiting resistors R1 through Rn to the voltage dividing network AV, BV. If the selector switch SS1 is set to a position so that the application of the current signal through the voltage dividing network AV, BV produces an output at the common tap CT which is sufficient in magnitude to gate one or both of the rectifiers SCRl and SCR2, then the relay DR2 and/or the relay DR3 will be energized.

In the layout illustrated in FIG. 4 the numbers following the contact points in the decks A and B are representative of the number of strands that may break without affecting the predetermined tolerance in the composite roving as required by thespecification therefor. Thus, the contacts A0, B represent a setting of the control in which the specification requires that all of the strands be in the composite roving. That is, no strand breakouts are permitted by the specifications. Therefore, when a single TGR back contact closes, the current through one of the resistors RI through Rn is sufficient to provide a voltage at the common tap CT to gate the silicon control rectifier SCR2 to energize relay DR3 in line 86; Upon the energization of relay DR3, back contacts DR3 in line 89 open deenergizing the winding motor control and the pull roll motor control circuits in lines 89 and 90 and, if desired, applying an electric brake to the motors to stopthe movement of the composite roving as quickly as possible. Contacts DR3 also close in line 91 to actuate an alarm circuit which may include indicating lamps, or buzzers, horns, etc. The operator is thus required to repair the broken individual roving before the circuit can be reactuated and the combination of the individual rovings into the final composite roving be restarted.

Similarly, the product whose specifications permit one end to be out without stopping the process may be attained by setting the selector switch SS1 so that contact arms CAA and CAB are touching contacts A1 and B1, respectively. The values of the resistances AV1 and BVl are such that a larger signal current is required to effect the pulling in of the operation stop relay DR3. Thus when a single back contact, such as TGRl closes, the signal current provided through a resistor R1 to the voltage dividing network AV, BV does not provide a signal magnitude at the common tap CT to gate the silicon controlled rectifier SCR2. However, it may be desirable for the operator to know that one strand has broken out so that he may effect repair thereof before a second strand breaks out and stops operation of the equipment. Thus, the magnitude of the signal at the common tap CT may be insufficient to gate the silicon controlled rectifier SCRZ in line 86 but will be large enough to gate the silicon controlled rectifier SCRl in line 85. The relay DR2 in line is then energized closing contacts DR2 in line 87 to actuate an alarm circuit consisting of an alarm lamp AL in line 87 and an alarm buzzer in line 88. Thus the operator is notified that the equipment is operating with one strand broken and, although this is still within the tolerance and the apparatus is operating, it is desirable to rethread the broken strand to return the strand feed to the maximum number of rovings within the specification to prevent a possible shutdown of the entire apparatus when the second strand breaks.

Whenever two strands break, then two of the back contacts in lines 72 to 76 close, placing two of the current limiting resistances in parallel. This reduces the magnitude of resistance opposing current flow to the voltage divider network, permitting a larger current flow and increasing the voltage output at point CT of the voltage divider network.

Resistance magnitudes are also calculated for the resistances AV2 through AVx and BV2 through BVx so that a similar operation may be effected when the specifications which permit two strands, three strands or x number of strands to be out without stopping operation. Again, a voltage is provided of a magnitude at the common tap CT to notify the operator that one or more strands are broken and require re-threading, but

the apparatus is still allowed to operate since a sufficient number of individual bodies are being combined into a composite roving to meet the specifications therefor.

Referring again to the TGRT contacts in line 71, it

may be desirable to individually monitor the tracer strand and shut the apparatus down when the tracer strand breaks, without regard to how many strands are still being combined into the composite roving in addition to the tracer strand. Thus the TCS switch is closed to enable motion sensing by the TTRT contacts through a resistance RT and an indicating lamp LT connected in series with a tracer strand dropout relay DRl. A tracer strand is required in some applications of the composite roving to be present at all times so that the makeup of a final product may be determined by color sensing or other sensing provided by a medium carried by the tracer strand. So, the winding of the composite roving must be stopped if the tracer strand breaks, to allow the tracer strand to be re-threaded to prevent any discontinuity or any substantial discontinuity of the tracer strand in the composite roving. The operation is thus stopped when the TGRT back contacts close indicating a cessation of motion of the tracer strand and causing the energization of the relay DRl. DRl back contacts in line 89 open to stop the winding operation, as previously described, until the tracer strand is re-threaded.

After any interruption of operation by opening of the back contacts DR] or DR3 the operation of the unit cannot be restarted until sufficient strands have been re-threaded to effect motion monitoring by the pulleys P and generators ACTG or DCTG. That is, the back contacts which provide the motion signals which are associated with the broken strands will remain closed after the TDR contact in line 72 closes so that the operation of the unit will be interrupted again. Thus, it is impossible to restart the unit for continuous operation until the required number of broken strands have been re-threaded.

There has thus been described as a preferred embodiment of this invention apparatus for packaging composite roving formed from a plurality of individual rovings which includes a winding collet upon which composite roving is wound into a package and means for rotating the collet. Combining or'gathering means are provided for a plurality of the individual rovings as they are supplied from a source. The motion of each individual roving is monitored between the supply source and the combining or gathering means and a motion signal is supplied for each roving in response to motion thereof between the supply source and the combining or gathering means. Means responsive to the motion signals control the supplying of the individual rovings for the composite roving by shutting down the operation unless a predetermined number of rovings are being pulled from the supply source and combined into the composite roving.

The control means may include means for indicating cessation of a motion ofa predetermined number of individual rovings from the supply. The control means may be connected to disable the collet rotating means in response to the cessation of motion of a predetermined number of individual rovings from the supply.

The apparatus may further include an alarm, and the control means may be connected to actuate the alarm in response to cessation of motion of a second predetermined number of individual rovings from the supply, the second predetermined number being smaller than the first-mentioned predetermined number which is required to stop operation of the apparatus. The control means may also include means responsive to a motion signal from a tracer roving and be connected to disable the collet rotating means in response to a cessation of motion of the tracer roving.

The embodiment described further includes pull roll means for advancing the individual roving from the supply to the combining means. The motion monitoring means may be positioned intermediate the pull roll means and the supply. The control means is then connected to disable the pull roll means and the collet rotating means in response to the cessation of motion of a predetermined number of individual rovings from the supply. A time delay relay provides means for inhibiting operation of the control means or circuit during a period when none of the individual rovings are in motion. That is, it inhibits operation of the control means during a startup period until a predetermined motion or linear velocity of the strands or rovings is attained or acquired. in the preferred embodiment disclosed herein the motion monitoring means comprises a generator means for each roving, each generator means being responsive to movement of an associated roving to produce an electrical signal.

It is apparent that within the scope of the invention modifications and different arrangements as well as different components may be utilized other than herein disclosed and the present disclosure is illustrative only, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of packaging glass fiber strands including engaging a plurality of individual glass fiber strands from a strand supply source with a movable engaging surface, moving the engaging surface to advance the strands from the strand supply source, monitoring the motion of each strand by pulling each strand over a rotatable surface which rotates with the strand in response to strand motion, each rotatable surface providing a signal which indicates that the strand being pulled over that rotatable surface is in motion, stopping the movement of all strands by said movable surface in response to the detection of a lack of motion of a predetermined number of individual strands from said strand supply means, and actuating an alarm in response to the sensing of cessation of strand motion of a number of said individual strands less than said predetermined number required to stop movement of said movable surface.

2. Apparatus for controlling the combining of linear glass fiber bodies into a composite product comprising, means for delivering a plurality of individual linear glass fiber bodies from supplies thereof to a glass fiber body combining station, a monitoring station for each of said linear glass fiber bodies-for detecting motion of each body and providing a motion signal in response to said motion, means for interrupting delivery of said fiber bodies to said combining station in response to lack of a motion signal from at least one of said monitoring stations, and means for inhibiting operation of said delivery interrupting'means until after said monitoring stations can initially provide motion signals, said interrupting means including means for disabling said delivery means only after cessation of motion of a predetermined number of linear bodies in excess of one.

3. Apparatus for controlling the combining of linear bodies into a composite product comprising means for delivering a plurality of individual linear bodies from supplies thereof to a body combining station, a monitoring station for each of said linear bodies for detecting motion of each body and providing a motion signal in response to said motion, and control means responsive to said motion signals for controlling said delivering means, said control means including means for actuating alarm means after cessation of motion of a first predetermined number of linear bodies and means for disabling said delivery means after cessation of motion of a second predetermined number of linear bodies,

said second predetermined number being larger than said first predetermined number.

4. Apparatus for packaging composite roving formed from a plurality of individual rovings including, in combination, a winding collet upon which composite roving is wound into a package, means for rotating the collet, means for combining a plurality of said individual rovings as supplied from a source thereof into said composite roving, means for monitoring motion of each individual roving between said supply source and said combining means and supplying a motion signal for each roving in response to motion thereof between said supply source and said combining means, means responsive to said motion signals for controlling the supplying of said individual rovings for said composite roving, said control means being connected to disable said collet rotating means in response to cessation of motion of a predetermined number of individual rovings from said supply, and an alarm, said control means being connected to actuate said alarm in response to cessation of motion of a second predetermined number of individual rovings from said supply, said second predetermined number being smaller than said firstmentioned predetermined number.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 which further includes means for inhibiting operation of said control means during a period when none of said individual rovings are in motion.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 which further includes time delay means for inhibiting operation of said control means during a start up period.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said motion monitoring means comprises a generator means for each roving, each generator means being responsive to movement of an associated roving to produce an electrical signal. 

1. The method of packaging glass fiber strands including engaging a plurality of individual glass fiber strands from a strand supply source with a movable engaging surface, moving the engaging surface to advance the strands from the strand supply source, monitoring the motion of each strand by pulling each strand over a rotatable surface which rotates with the strand in response to strand motion, each rotatable surface providing a signal which indicates that the strand being pulled over that rotatable surface is in motion, stopping the movement of all strands by said movable surface in response to the detection of a lack of motion of a predetermined number of individual strands from said strand supply means, and actuating an alarm in response to the sensing of cessation of strand motion of a number of said individual strands less than said predetermined number required to stop movement of said movable surface.
 2. Apparatus for controlling the combining of linear glass fiber bodies into a composite product comprising, means for delivering a plurality of individual linear glass fiber bodies from supplies thereof to a glass fiber body combining station, a monitoring station for each of said linear glass fiber bodies for detecting motion of each body and providing a motion signal in response to said motion, means for interrupting delivery of said fiber bodies to said combining station in response to lack of a motion signal from at least one of said monitoring stations, and means for inhibiting operation of said delivery interrupting means until after said monitoring stations can initially provide motion signals, said interrupting means including means for disabling said delivery means only after cessation of motion of a predetermined number of linear bodies in excess of one.
 3. Apparatus for controlling the combining of linear bodies into a composite product comprising means for delivering a plurality of individual linear bodies from supplies thereof to a body combining station, a monitoring station for each of said linear bodies for detecting motion of each body and providing a motion signal in response to said motion, and control means responsive to said motion signals for controlling said delivering means, said control means including means for actuating alarm means after cessaTion of motion of a first predetermined number of linear bodies and means for disabling said delivery means after cessation of motion of a second predetermined number of linear bodies, said second predetermined number being larger than said first predetermined number.
 4. Apparatus for packaging composite roving formed from a plurality of individual rovings including, in combination, a winding collet upon which composite roving is wound into a package, means for rotating the collet, means for combining a plurality of said individual rovings as supplied from a source thereof into said composite roving, means for monitoring motion of each individual roving between said supply source and said combining means and supplying a motion signal for each roving in response to motion thereof between said supply source and said combining means, means responsive to said motion signals for controlling the supplying of said individual rovings for said composite roving, said control means being connected to disable said collet rotating means in response to cessation of motion of a predetermined number of individual rovings from said supply, and an alarm, said control means being connected to actuate said alarm in response to cessation of motion of a second predetermined number of individual rovings from said supply, said second predetermined number being smaller than said first-mentioned predetermined number.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 which further includes means for inhibiting operation of said control means during a period when none of said individual rovings are in motion.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 which further includes time delay means for inhibiting operation of said control means during a start up period.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said motion monitoring means comprises a generator means for each roving, each generator means being responsive to movement of an associated roving to produce an electrical signal. 